The Miami Dolphins fell to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night 6-0.  There were obviously major struggles on the offensive side of the ball for both teams in a very low scoring game.  

However, there were also some positive performances that deserve mention on offense and defense for the Dolphins.  

Here's who's stock is rising and falling…

Stock up: 

1) Myles Gaskin. He ran hard, fighting through tackles on more than one occasion.  He had a long run of 35 yards in the 2nd quarter, finishing with 7 carries for 57 yards.  Clearly the best performer on the offensive side of the ball for Miami.  

2) Erik Ezukanma.  He provided a much-needed offensive spark with two big runs, with the longest going for 39 yards.  He's likely right around the cut line for a final WR spot, so this was a nice start to making a case for the roster. 

3) Cam Smith and Keidron Smith.  It was generally a good evening to be named Smith in a Dolphins' jersey.  Cam Smith had some mixed results in coverage earlier in the game, but had two big plays to help stop two Falcons drives in the second half (a third down pass break up to force a punt and a third down tackle for loss in the red zone) before leaving with an apparent arm injury.  Keidron Smith had 2 pass break ups, including one in the end zone on fourth down.  

4) The running game.  It largely worked, with the Dolphins totaling 168 yards in 26 carries (6.8 ypc) on the ground.  While outside runs seemed to be more effective than inside, it's hard to be critical of 168 yards and a near-seven yards per carry average.  

Stock down: 

1) Both Miami quarterbacks. It was a very bad day for the Dolphins' reserve signal callers.  Mike White started strong on the Dolphins' first drive, but then threw a terrible interception in the end zone trying to force the ball to Tyler Kroft. He took a nine-yard sack after holding the ball for way too long on the following drive.  He was unable to engineer a single first-half scoring drive.  

Skylar Thompson took four second-half sacks and lobbed an easy interception on 3rd and long early in the fourth quarter.  With 2:30 left, he was penalized for intentional grounding before throwing a pick-six to Atlanta's Breon Borders.  Then, on the final drive, he was sacked and fumbled, which was recovered by Atlanta.  To be somewhat fair, the pass protection was bad in the second half especially, but the mistakes weren't all a result of that.  

Simply a horrible night under center for the Dolphins, with a hat tip to some particularly poor pass protection. 

2) Red zone offense.  Goes hand in hand with #1.  In the first half alone, Miami turned the ball over in the end zone, failed on 4th and short inside the 10 twice, and failed on a 3rd and 1 run that could have set up 1st and goal.  An absolutely dreadful performance.

3) First half run defense. Jaylen Twyman and Mike Rose were easily swept out of the middle of the field on the Falcons' Godwin Igwebuike's 11-yard first half touchdown run.  The Falcons' offensive line generally got the better of the Dolphins' front seven in the first half, totaling 69 yards on 12 rushes (5.8 ypc).

4) James Tunstall.  The rookie right tackle had holding penalties on back-to-back plays in the second half that stalled a promising drive.  He was also beaten with an inside spin move on the final drive when Thompson was sacked and fumbled.  Not a great first showing at all.  

5) Punt coverage team.  Allowed a game-sealing 79-yard punt return touchdown by Dee Alford with under three minutes left.  That simply can't happen.  

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Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports